Description:
You may remember from previous lessons that the pentatonic scale uses 5 notes from the major scale. The vast majority of R&B riffs use the pentatonic scale!
Our first exercise starts at the 6th scale degree, and descends. But we’re gonna make it more interesting than that, with two different rhythms. Please sing on any vowel you like! If accuracy is an issue, you can add a consonant, instead singing.
Exercise: pentatonic riff 6-5, 321, 6–5321
Our next exercise covers a slightly wider range and includes some repeated pitches. If it helps you to know the numbers or scale degrees, that’s 1, 235, 568, 653, 321. Remember, those numbers aren’t random; this is all built on the major scale. Please sing on any vowel you like, and if you need some support to give those pitches distinction, add a consonant.
Exercise: Pentatonic riff 1-235-568-653-321
Time to improvise! I’ll give you 3-4 pitches of the pentatonic scale, and your job is to create your own rhythm. For example, I’ll give you 1232, and you could sing 123–2, or 1–232. If you’re more advanced in this area, consider repeating pitches, changing directions, or even adding on some additional pitches!
Don’t stress if it doesn’t sound good on your first try. That’s a natural and necessary component to experimentation! Let’s have some fun.
Exercise: Give pitches & have students create rhythm; can repeat notes, change directions, etc.
Lessons:
- 1: Welcome!
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2:
Warmup
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3:
Vibrato & Smooth Tone
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4:
Pentatonic Riffs (improv focus)
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5:
Belting
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6:
Conclusion
Instructor: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.